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A Jump in Time #1
The Last Saxon King
One jump to save all time.
When Dan Renfrew is accidentally transported to England in the year 1066, he also learns a startling fact. He’s a time jumper, descended from a long line of secret heroes who protect the present by traveling to the past to fix breaks and glitches in the time stream. To get home alive, Dan must try to restore history, but he soon discovers even bigger challenges than suspicious Anglo-Saxons, marauding Vikings, and invading Normans. A band of malicious time jumpers is threatening the very future of the universe.
A Note From the Publisher
The first in a six book series. The second book, The Celtic Deception will be published in September 2023
When Dan Renfrew is accidentally transported to England in the year 1066, he also learns a startling fact. He’s a time jumper, descended from a long line of secret heroes who protect the present by traveling to the past to fix breaks and glitches in the time stream. To get home alive, Dan must try to restore history, but he soon discovers even bigger challenges than suspicious Anglo-Saxons, marauding Vikings, and invading Normans. A band of malicious time jumpers is threatening the very future of the universe.
A Note From the Publisher
The first in a six book series. The second book, The Celtic Deception will be published in September 2023
185 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2023
19 people are currently reading
5234 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Varga
7 books91 followersI am a YA historical fiction author who takes great pains to ensure historical accuracy in my books, while still ensuring that I tell a great story. Although I enjoy reading and writing about all history, I have a particular fondness for European history from Greco-Roman times until the crusades.
I hope you enjoy my stories.
I hope you enjoy my stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
May 13, 2022
The Last Saxon King by Andrew Varga, is a marvelous time-jumping novel that follows the story of Dan, a teenage boy of current times, who finds himself in the year 1066 AD. One moment he's in his living room seeing his dad being furiously attacked and seriously wounded with ancient weapons by a strange man called "Victor",. In the next moment, his dad tosses him a unique rod looking device and tells him to say the riddle he taught him! Now! Do it now his dad pleads... and upon saying the riddle while he holds the device in hand, Dan is transported to where and when he doesn't have a clue! He seems to have landed by a river in the middle of nowhere!
All he knows is, is that his phone doesn't work, his life is in danger with someone pointing a bow and arrow at him, and he has to fix SOMETHING that is wrong in order to return to his own time period, thereby, having the chance to hopefully save his dad.
He discovers It's Anglo-Saxon England, and takes on a new made up name (Leofric), from Eoforwic.. If they handed out an Oscar for Best Spontaneous Lie in Life-or- Death Situation, he would have just won it., But he must become whatever he needs to become to survive.
It's one unforgettable and enjoyable journey!
Appealing to Time-Travel lovers , fans of YA and historical fiction.
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
My thanks to NetGalley, Imbrifex Books, and Andrew Varga for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
All he knows is, is that his phone doesn't work, his life is in danger with someone pointing a bow and arrow at him, and he has to fix SOMETHING that is wrong in order to return to his own time period, thereby, having the chance to hopefully save his dad.
He discovers It's Anglo-Saxon England, and takes on a new made up name (Leofric), from Eoforwic.. If they handed out an Oscar for Best Spontaneous Lie in Life-or- Death Situation, he would have just won it., But he must become whatever he needs to become to survive.
It's one unforgettable and enjoyable journey!
Appealing to Time-Travel lovers , fans of YA and historical fiction.
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
My thanks to NetGalley, Imbrifex Books, and Andrew Varga for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 10, 2022
NOT FOR ME
I didn't enjoy most of this book (except for the ending).
I LOVE MOST TIME TRAVEL BOOKS
I'm a complete sucker for time travel novels, and have read a ton of them: The Time Traveller's Wife, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., Master of the Revels, Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, Blackout (All Clear #1), A Wrinkle in Time, The Time Machine, The Story of the Amulet, Time and Again, etc. etc. All of these charmed me in different ways, reflecting the various eccentricities and idiosyncrasies of their authors.
BUT THIS BOOK BORED ME
This book bored me for most of the story (except for the ending). I normally would not have even finished it, except since I got it on NetGalley, I felt obliged to read it to the end in order to write a fair review. It was fairly long, so I forced myself to slog through it. I couldn’t wait to be done with it.
AM I TOO OLD FOR Y.A.?
I wondered if maybe the problem was that I was too old to be reading a YA novel. But I don't think that was the issue. I've read (and reread) and enjoyed many YA and children's books over the years, even as an adult: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Ender's Game, The Golden Compass, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Flora Segunda, Coraline, etc.
ISSUES WITH THIS BOOK
I had a number of problems with this book.
TOO GENERIC AND BLAND
First, it was so generic and plain vanilla. It seemed like the mall/TV/Hallmark card version of a time travel novel. It's no accident that an early scene of the book in fact takes place in a mall.
WHO IS THE MAIN CHARACTER?
Second, the main character and narrator, teenager Dan Renfrew, was such a nonentity/nebbish through much of the story. (We do know he’s a coward). While not having a clear sense of self might be normal for a modern teen who's lived a sheltered life, it doesn't make for very interesting reading. I found it difficult to care about Dan Renfrew. Compelling characters, even in kids' books, have a strong sense of who they are. That's what makes them interesting to read about.
Also, people flocked around Dan and were eager to support him. He seemed like such a vacuous person, I could not for the life of me understand why. Also, I couldn't understand what the girl in the romance central to the story saw in him. He was like a vacuum to me. Nothing there.
TRITE WRITING
Next, much of the writing was just plain trite. Dan watched his love interest's hair "shimmer like copper in the sunlight" and says she had "eyes that sparkled like emeralds". The warriors were having "fun with their friends". Groan... The author used the most cliched fantasy tropes. (The girl was disguised as a boy, and blah blah).
THE HOW AND WHY OF TIME TRAVEL NOT CLEARLY EXPLAINED
The time travel was done with "jump sticks". The mechanism of how these worked was never explained in a satisfactory way. Why did he end up in a certain time period, for example?
Dan's dad (also a time jumper) had wisely trained him in things he might need to know in a time jump but unwisely kept the whole business secret from him. Dan gets a letter from his Dad near the story’s end, but even that never really explains much about time travel and why he (the father) was involved in it. In every other time travel novel I've read, there was an elaborate disusssion of the how and why of time travel (different in every series of time travel books, but always carefully explained). Not here. It's tacked on at the end and even then the explanation is not satisfactory.
We are told that the objective of time travel is to go back and fix “glitches” that would prevent modern history from unfolding the way it has. (Would that be so terrible? Are modern times so wonderful?) An “evil” group of rogue time travelers are deliberately causing these “glitches”. Why? Who knows? We aren’t really told why, except that they are a big group who have hatched a conspiracy. To be revealed in a later book, maybe. But after this book, there’s no way I’m reading any more of this series.
STORY SLOW TO START
The story didn't even start to get interesting until about eighty pages in. Isn't a good story supposed to grab readers from the beginning? Why do so many novice authors go on and on in the beginning before the story really starts?
While the romantic and time travel/fantasy elements of the book were unsatisfactory, its strongest element was the history. But even this bored me. There were pages of unnecessary and dull descriptions of armies on the move, etc. Many of the historical scenes seemed to take place at a boring distance from reality, like a bad TV show one plays in the background but pays little attention to.
HISTORY ACCURATE BUT DULL
The Viking history was accurate, but not terribly compelling. My basis for comparison would be John Gwynne's incomparable and magnificent Bloodsworn fantasy series, based on Norse myths and Viking history.
MAIN CHARACTER DIDN’T SEEM ENDANGERED UNTIL THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS
The main character was constantly getting into scrapes. But I never felt like he was in real danger until the last few sections of the book.
LAST SECTION OF BOOK THE BEST PART
The best scenes in the book were the last few: the Battle of Hastings (in which I finally felt as if the "hero" were in real and immediate danger) and his return to the present. His romantic reunion with his dream girl in modern times was cute.
AUTHOR HAS POTENTIAL
I didn't give this an even lower rating because I felt the author has potential. He has a sense of how to develop a story. His grounding in history is good. But he needs a lot of work on characters, developing a unique authorial voice, and a more imaginative prose style.
Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for providing an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#TheLastSaxonKing #NetGalley
I didn't enjoy most of this book (except for the ending).
I LOVE MOST TIME TRAVEL BOOKS
I'm a complete sucker for time travel novels, and have read a ton of them: The Time Traveller's Wife, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., Master of the Revels, Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, Blackout (All Clear #1), A Wrinkle in Time, The Time Machine, The Story of the Amulet, Time and Again, etc. etc. All of these charmed me in different ways, reflecting the various eccentricities and idiosyncrasies of their authors.
BUT THIS BOOK BORED ME
This book bored me for most of the story (except for the ending). I normally would not have even finished it, except since I got it on NetGalley, I felt obliged to read it to the end in order to write a fair review. It was fairly long, so I forced myself to slog through it. I couldn’t wait to be done with it.
AM I TOO OLD FOR Y.A.?
I wondered if maybe the problem was that I was too old to be reading a YA novel. But I don't think that was the issue. I've read (and reread) and enjoyed many YA and children's books over the years, even as an adult: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Ender's Game, The Golden Compass, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Flora Segunda, Coraline, etc.
ISSUES WITH THIS BOOK
I had a number of problems with this book.
TOO GENERIC AND BLAND
First, it was so generic and plain vanilla. It seemed like the mall/TV/Hallmark card version of a time travel novel. It's no accident that an early scene of the book in fact takes place in a mall.
WHO IS THE MAIN CHARACTER?
Second, the main character and narrator, teenager Dan Renfrew, was such a nonentity/nebbish through much of the story. (We do know he’s a coward). While not having a clear sense of self might be normal for a modern teen who's lived a sheltered life, it doesn't make for very interesting reading. I found it difficult to care about Dan Renfrew. Compelling characters, even in kids' books, have a strong sense of who they are. That's what makes them interesting to read about.
Also, people flocked around Dan and were eager to support him. He seemed like such a vacuous person, I could not for the life of me understand why. Also, I couldn't understand what the girl in the romance central to the story saw in him. He was like a vacuum to me. Nothing there.
TRITE WRITING
Next, much of the writing was just plain trite. Dan watched his love interest's hair "shimmer like copper in the sunlight" and says she had "eyes that sparkled like emeralds". The warriors were having "fun with their friends". Groan... The author used the most cliched fantasy tropes. (The girl was disguised as a boy, and blah blah).
THE HOW AND WHY OF TIME TRAVEL NOT CLEARLY EXPLAINED
The time travel was done with "jump sticks". The mechanism of how these worked was never explained in a satisfactory way. Why did he end up in a certain time period, for example?
Dan's dad (also a time jumper) had wisely trained him in things he might need to know in a time jump but unwisely kept the whole business secret from him. Dan gets a letter from his Dad near the story’s end, but even that never really explains much about time travel and why he (the father) was involved in it. In every other time travel novel I've read, there was an elaborate disusssion of the how and why of time travel (different in every series of time travel books, but always carefully explained). Not here. It's tacked on at the end and even then the explanation is not satisfactory.
We are told that the objective of time travel is to go back and fix “glitches” that would prevent modern history from unfolding the way it has. (Would that be so terrible? Are modern times so wonderful?) An “evil” group of rogue time travelers are deliberately causing these “glitches”. Why? Who knows? We aren’t really told why, except that they are a big group who have hatched a conspiracy. To be revealed in a later book, maybe. But after this book, there’s no way I’m reading any more of this series.
STORY SLOW TO START
The story didn't even start to get interesting until about eighty pages in. Isn't a good story supposed to grab readers from the beginning? Why do so many novice authors go on and on in the beginning before the story really starts?
While the romantic and time travel/fantasy elements of the book were unsatisfactory, its strongest element was the history. But even this bored me. There were pages of unnecessary and dull descriptions of armies on the move, etc. Many of the historical scenes seemed to take place at a boring distance from reality, like a bad TV show one plays in the background but pays little attention to.
HISTORY ACCURATE BUT DULL
The Viking history was accurate, but not terribly compelling. My basis for comparison would be John Gwynne's incomparable and magnificent Bloodsworn fantasy series, based on Norse myths and Viking history.
MAIN CHARACTER DIDN’T SEEM ENDANGERED UNTIL THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS
The main character was constantly getting into scrapes. But I never felt like he was in real danger until the last few sections of the book.
LAST SECTION OF BOOK THE BEST PART
The best scenes in the book were the last few: the Battle of Hastings (in which I finally felt as if the "hero" were in real and immediate danger) and his return to the present. His romantic reunion with his dream girl in modern times was cute.
AUTHOR HAS POTENTIAL
I didn't give this an even lower rating because I felt the author has potential. He has a sense of how to develop a story. His grounding in history is good. But he needs a lot of work on characters, developing a unique authorial voice, and a more imaginative prose style.
Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for providing an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#TheLastSaxonKing #NetGalley
October 17, 2022
A sweet and simple time-travel, historical fictional story which doesn’t go into the technicalities of the history or the science side of the time jump, but is still enjoyable and interesting enough to keep you glued to the end.
Dan, a sixteen-year-old homeschooled boy witnesses a brutal attack on his father by a mysterious man. While trying to save his father, the latter shoves a rod like thing in his hands and requests him to recite his childhood bedtime rhyme. Confused and clueless, Dan do as he is told and ta-da, he is transported in time to Anglo Saxon England in the year 1066. As he befriends another time jumper, he comes to know why he was heavily taught ancient history by his father and trained in war combat. His father belongs to a line of time jumpers (a role passed on from father to son) who go back in time and fix glitches in the time stream. Dan needs to figure out these glitches while save himself from his father’s attacker and make it back to his time.
What I liked: Obviously the theme, interesting concept and a fast paced story.
What I disliked: The execution was too simple. I expected a rich history packed plot but that wasn’t the case.It barely had any action despite the story enveloping two major battles. Also, the writing was quite bland and simple. Having said that, I’m still intrigued enough to read the next book in the series.
I mostly listened to the audiobook but also read the ebook here and there, especially every time I came across a new Anglo Saxon name which were all a mouthful. I recommend the audio more than the text version.
Thanks to Imbrifex Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023.
3.25/5🌟(rounding down).
Dan, a sixteen-year-old homeschooled boy witnesses a brutal attack on his father by a mysterious man. While trying to save his father, the latter shoves a rod like thing in his hands and requests him to recite his childhood bedtime rhyme. Confused and clueless, Dan do as he is told and ta-da, he is transported in time to Anglo Saxon England in the year 1066. As he befriends another time jumper, he comes to know why he was heavily taught ancient history by his father and trained in war combat. His father belongs to a line of time jumpers (a role passed on from father to son) who go back in time and fix glitches in the time stream. Dan needs to figure out these glitches while save himself from his father’s attacker and make it back to his time.
What I liked: Obviously the theme, interesting concept and a fast paced story.
What I disliked: The execution was too simple. I expected a rich history packed plot but that wasn’t the case.It barely had any action despite the story enveloping two major battles. Also, the writing was quite bland and simple. Having said that, I’m still intrigued enough to read the next book in the series.
I mostly listened to the audiobook but also read the ebook here and there, especially every time I came across a new Anglo Saxon name which were all a mouthful. I recommend the audio more than the text version.
Thanks to Imbrifex Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023.
3.25/5🌟(rounding down).
September 9, 2023
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Mark Sanderlin
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Dan Renfrew is homeschooled. He doesn’t have friends and doesn’t like the education at home. One day, he is transported to a strange place, and he has to figure out where and when he is. He later learns that he is in Anglo-Saxon England, and the year is 1066. He could never imagine that his knowledge of this time, events, and battles would pay off someday.
This is a wonderful jump-in-time novel for young adults, and the readers can learn about the history and events that took place in 1066 in Anglo-Saxon England. At the beginning of this story, Dan is a typical teenager who thinks everything is boring and useless, like his education, for instance. But he soon realizes that all the unusual and comprehensive knowledge his father taught him was not in vain.
Again, great narration by Mark Sanderlin.
This is book one in a series of seven novels. I can’t wait for the next adventure.
Thanks to Imbrifex Books for the advanced copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Dan Renfrew is homeschooled. He doesn’t have friends and doesn’t like the education at home. One day, he is transported to a strange place, and he has to figure out where and when he is. He later learns that he is in Anglo-Saxon England, and the year is 1066. He could never imagine that his knowledge of this time, events, and battles would pay off someday.
This is a wonderful jump-in-time novel for young adults, and the readers can learn about the history and events that took place in 1066 in Anglo-Saxon England. At the beginning of this story, Dan is a typical teenager who thinks everything is boring and useless, like his education, for instance. But he soon realizes that all the unusual and comprehensive knowledge his father taught him was not in vain.
Again, great narration by Mark Sanderlin.
This is book one in a series of seven novels. I can’t wait for the next adventure.
Thanks to Imbrifex Books for the advanced copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
May 9, 2022
Be still my beating heart, this book was phenomenal! The Last Saxon King follows the story of Dan, a teenage boy of today who finds himself in the year 1066 trying to fix history. The historical accuracy of this book as well as the characters made this impossible to put down. I've always had a deep passion for history, especially European. It's rare that I find a work of historical fiction that doesn't irk, or disappoint me, in some fashion as to it's accuracy. This may be the first YA novel I've read that is accurate down to the language, lifestyle, buildings, food, and hierarchies. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and find out what happens! Young adult readers will learn so much about this period and in a way that allows them to understand and identify with the characters.
The story contains adventure, mystery, suspense and humor! I can't recommend it highly enough.
The story contains adventure, mystery, suspense and humor! I can't recommend it highly enough.
May 13, 2022
For fans of alternative history/ historical fiction and time travel. As an adult who enjoys YA, this was a fun read. As a mom with a houseful of boys, this was a terrific find. It's a more grown-up version of Haddix's time travel series The Missing and all around better than Harry Turtledove's Cross Time Traffic series.
This book features professional level writing, good editing, strong plots, and well-developed characters. It is suitable for ages 13+. I stayed up to finish this book. I can't wait to read the whole series. I will be buying these for my boys.
We meet our main character, 16-year-old Dan, as he's about to be kicked out of a shopping mall for loitering. He's homeschooled by his history obsessed dad and his PE curriculum consists of historical fighting techniques. Nothing weird about that, right? This character reminds me of a young Sam Winchester if his dad had been a time traveling professor not a demon hunter. Dan interrupts a life and death struggle at his house, escaping with a mysterious device to England in 1066.
We learn that the phrase “the flow of time” is not just a saying—time moves! The flow of time can change the past by moving events. Small changes don't matter, but large changes require people called time jumpers to go in and set things right so that the present doesn't come undone. The time travel devices are also universal translators and somehow don't attract much notice from the people in the past. We learn the devices are very old (ancient aliens, maybe?) and are passed down in families. Dan receives help from another time jumper whose family was murdered. He needs to find a way to fix the past without becoming the next victim in a war between the time jumpers.
This book teaches history by having an alternative set of events start to unfold, causing Dan to have to remember what was supposed to happen and then figure out how to fix things.
Note for parents, educators, and librarians:
Why consider this book when there are other time travel series out there?
Haddix’s The Missing series is aimed at a slightly younger audience. It has a lower reading level and appeals most to kids ages 10-14. If you have history or adventure-minded readers who have outgrown Haddix, Andrew Varga’s The Last Saxon King is a good next step up.
The Cross Time Traffic books by Harry Turtledove are better for discussing political science or economics than history. In these books, a crucial difference on an alternative timeline creates familiar but entirely distinct worlds. Turtledove is less concerned with actual history, focusing instead on the social and economic pressures that shape societies.
Thank you to Netgalley and Imbrifex books for providing me with a free copy to read and review.
All opinions are my own.
**UPDATED**
Ya’ll, the publisher e-mailed me after I sent my initial feedback.
Here is the link to the book trailer:
https://vimeo.com/707382534
HOW GREAT IS THAT?
This book features professional level writing, good editing, strong plots, and well-developed characters. It is suitable for ages 13+. I stayed up to finish this book. I can't wait to read the whole series. I will be buying these for my boys.
We meet our main character, 16-year-old Dan, as he's about to be kicked out of a shopping mall for loitering. He's homeschooled by his history obsessed dad and his PE curriculum consists of historical fighting techniques. Nothing weird about that, right? This character reminds me of a young Sam Winchester if his dad had been a time traveling professor not a demon hunter. Dan interrupts a life and death struggle at his house, escaping with a mysterious device to England in 1066.
We learn that the phrase “the flow of time” is not just a saying—time moves! The flow of time can change the past by moving events. Small changes don't matter, but large changes require people called time jumpers to go in and set things right so that the present doesn't come undone. The time travel devices are also universal translators and somehow don't attract much notice from the people in the past. We learn the devices are very old (ancient aliens, maybe?) and are passed down in families. Dan receives help from another time jumper whose family was murdered. He needs to find a way to fix the past without becoming the next victim in a war between the time jumpers.
This book teaches history by having an alternative set of events start to unfold, causing Dan to have to remember what was supposed to happen and then figure out how to fix things.
Note for parents, educators, and librarians:
Why consider this book when there are other time travel series out there?
Haddix’s The Missing series is aimed at a slightly younger audience. It has a lower reading level and appeals most to kids ages 10-14. If you have history or adventure-minded readers who have outgrown Haddix, Andrew Varga’s The Last Saxon King is a good next step up.
The Cross Time Traffic books by Harry Turtledove are better for discussing political science or economics than history. In these books, a crucial difference on an alternative timeline creates familiar but entirely distinct worlds. Turtledove is less concerned with actual history, focusing instead on the social and economic pressures that shape societies.
Thank you to Netgalley and Imbrifex books for providing me with a free copy to read and review.
All opinions are my own.
**UPDATED**
Ya’ll, the publisher e-mailed me after I sent my initial feedback.
Here is the link to the book trailer:
https://vimeo.com/707382534
HOW GREAT IS THAT?
December 22, 2022
During my early teens there were two TV shows that I remember our local English channel aired for adolescent/teenage viewers: Myth Quest and Spell Binder. These shows were basically about teenagers who somehow find they are able to transport themselves to different events in ancient/early history with the help of an object that assists them in time travelling. They weren't groundbreaking shows but were fun to watch while they lasted and it was the same case with listening to the audiobook version of this book. During their time travelling adventures, the teenagers on these shows show a gradual growth in their maturity levels and survival skills when they are faced with certain situations and hopefully we will get to see the same for Dan Renfrew as the series progresses.
My thanks to NetGalley, the audiobook publisher Imbifrex Audio and the author Andrew Varga for the audio Arc of the book.
The book has been narrated by Mark Sanderlin and will publish on 7th March, 2023.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
My thanks to NetGalley, the audiobook publisher Imbifrex Audio and the author Andrew Varga for the audio Arc of the book.
The book has been narrated by Mark Sanderlin and will publish on 7th March, 2023.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
March 7, 2023
The Last Saxon King is the first installment of the Jump In Time series, it starts slow but the pace grows and it becomes unputdownable.
I'm an history geek, but I ignore most of the Saxons battles so I was really engrossed in the story and I've finished it in a few hours.
Daniel Renfrew is a bored home-schooled teen until he find out he is a time traveler, and his life changes radically.
During his first unexpected jump in time he finds himself in 1066, he doesn't know anything about time travelling but fortunately he meets Sam that will help him. Will this couple of teens save the World from a catastrophic history glitch?
I adored to see Dan personal growth. He was shielded by his father all his life, so at the beginning he is unprepared and he can't deal with the difficulties but with the passing of the chapters he understands what he can do, his true abilities, he takes his responsibilities and he becomes a hero.
I've seen there are more books in the series and I can't wait to read what happens next.
This is the right book for a young reader, perfect for the adventures lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
January 11, 2023
After back-to-back fantasy books, historical fiction was a welcome change!
The story starts hitting you from the first chapter itself(fast-paced) unlike the books which take around 4 chapters to tell you what's happening(slow-paced)!
My Blurb:
A historical fantasy book with dual timelines focused around the 11th Century and the modern day. A young boy: Dan is being homeschooled by his father for reasons he doesn't understand and is bored to the bone. One day when he is out in the city taking a stroll, an unknown visitor hits his home, By the time he comes back, he sees his father on the brink of death with a sword to his neck. Suddenly everything is tumbling down & in chaos and as a final goodbye, his father rolled off some sort of a monument/device and asked him to fix the time glitch. Wonderstruck by why his father wants to use the device when he is on the brink of his death he does as told n elopes to the 11th century. Will Dan be able to survive and do what he is asked? only time will tell!!!
Recommendation:
Now let me tell you the book is very audience-specific, not just for the lovers of history but it will also take an open mind and a good imagination to appreciate this. Often history lovers don't like the actual stories being tinkered so they might get offended, but for people like me, this was an amazing roller-coaster ride in a haunted house!
A 4.5/5
The story starts hitting you from the first chapter itself(fast-paced) unlike the books which take around 4 chapters to tell you what's happening(slow-paced)!
My Blurb:
A historical fantasy book with dual timelines focused around the 11th Century and the modern day. A young boy: Dan is being homeschooled by his father for reasons he doesn't understand and is bored to the bone. One day when he is out in the city taking a stroll, an unknown visitor hits his home, By the time he comes back, he sees his father on the brink of death with a sword to his neck. Suddenly everything is tumbling down & in chaos and as a final goodbye, his father rolled off some sort of a monument/device and asked him to fix the time glitch. Wonderstruck by why his father wants to use the device when he is on the brink of his death he does as told n elopes to the 11th century. Will Dan be able to survive and do what he is asked? only time will tell!!!
Recommendation:
Now let me tell you the book is very audience-specific, not just for the lovers of history but it will also take an open mind and a good imagination to appreciate this. Often history lovers don't like the actual stories being tinkered so they might get offended, but for people like me, this was an amazing roller-coaster ride in a haunted house!
A 4.5/5
April 4, 2024
Wow! I loved this book and all the different characters! Can’t wait to read the next one!!
July 2, 2022
The Last Saxon King is an impressive debut and the fantastic start to an exciting new historical fantasy series!
Dan Renfrew is a homeschooled teenager who has no idea that he comes from a long line of time jumpers, whose sole job it is to fix glitches in time. He has no idea why his father is hammering detailed history at him or why he is being trained using ancient weapons. Until one day his world turns upside down and he thrust into his first time jump—back to Anglo Saxon times on the eve of the Battle of Hastings.
There is so much to love about this story. Dan is a great character to root for, and I love the supporting characters, especially Sam. Dan is funny with a wry sense of humour. He has to think quickly on his feet because he’s literally been launched into another world. Not only does he have to figure out the glitch, so he can return back to his time, but he has to survive being in the thick of a battle that changed the history of England. And even when he returns, there is the threat of a first rate villain to contend with.
The Last Saxon King is a gripping, faced paced read, perfect for readers who love a clever blending of history and fantasy.
Dan Renfrew is a homeschooled teenager who has no idea that he comes from a long line of time jumpers, whose sole job it is to fix glitches in time. He has no idea why his father is hammering detailed history at him or why he is being trained using ancient weapons. Until one day his world turns upside down and he thrust into his first time jump—back to Anglo Saxon times on the eve of the Battle of Hastings.
There is so much to love about this story. Dan is a great character to root for, and I love the supporting characters, especially Sam. Dan is funny with a wry sense of humour. He has to think quickly on his feet because he’s literally been launched into another world. Not only does he have to figure out the glitch, so he can return back to his time, but he has to survive being in the thick of a battle that changed the history of England. And even when he returns, there is the threat of a first rate villain to contend with.
The Last Saxon King is a gripping, faced paced read, perfect for readers who love a clever blending of history and fantasy.
November 25, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
4 stars. I enjoyed the story, I thought the dive into a lesser known battle was well done and this would be fantastic for middle schoolers studying history. I even thought it might be good for our homeschooling curriculum next year. The characters are likable and the book ending closed up the story while also setting up the series. My one gripe is the romance. It was unnecessary, it was a little ridiculous, and it didn't add to my enjoyment of the story. It's a whole series, you can take your time with the romance.
4 stars. I enjoyed the story, I thought the dive into a lesser known battle was well done and this would be fantastic for middle schoolers studying history. I even thought it might be good for our homeschooling curriculum next year. The characters are likable and the book ending closed up the story while also setting up the series. My one gripe is the romance. It was unnecessary, it was a little ridiculous, and it didn't add to my enjoyment of the story. It's a whole series, you can take your time with the romance.
May 23, 2022
My favorite way to study history is via alternative histories. The author has done an amazing job in researching the era into which he “drops” his character. Our homeschooled protagonist shows how his dad/teacher has prepared him as he works through numerous precarious and interesting adventures. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
March 8, 2024
4.5 stars
Wow this is my sort of book historical fiction with time travel what a twist at the end can’t wait for the next book of the series
Wow this is my sort of book historical fiction with time travel what a twist at the end can’t wait for the next book of the series
May 12, 2022
What a fun story! If you've ever fantastised about jumping back in history, you'll enjoy this story. I, for one, cannot wait to read the next in the series. Well done!
March 4, 2023
5+ Stars and 2 thumbs up! I absolutely LOVED this book! I normally hate books that leave the story unfinished, especially if it’s a big cliffhanger. This book wrapped up most of the book but does have a smidge of an unfinished story which will continue and get wrapped up through the entire upcoming new series. This was a winning read for me, especially because this is a first time author! If this is how great his first book is, I can’t wait to read the rest of his books! I loved the characters in this book and actually cried in the end! This book had it all - mystery, time travel, historical facts, murders, fighting, a bit of love, friendship, entertainment, plotting, evil doers, and hero’s. I normally read romance books and this had a tiny bit of a love story but was mostly just a time traveling, historical fiction book with historical nonfiction bits also. I could not put this book down, it was a phenomenal read. I love historical books that entertain and teach at the same time so now I feel smarter too! I absolutely loved this book, I can’t say it enough. I highly recommend this one and I don’t give out 5 stars easily, so when I do, you know it’s gotta be fantastic! I really can’t wait to read this authors future books, this first one was that awesome.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
July 5, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Saxon King (A Jump In Time Novel #1) by Andrew Varga is a fun time travel novel that takes its reader and MC, Dan, back to the year 1066 where he learns he's descended from people who time travel to protect the present from glitches and breaks in time. In order to get home, he'll have to fix the glitches with history. I particularly liked seeing all of the historical details come to life. It's not too often that I have the chance to read a story featuring Anglo-Saxons, Normans, and Vikings, especially in a time travel novel. My favorite aspect of this was that it features just how different English was back then compared to now with Dan's translator. The novel takes a little while to get going, but it's definitely worth sticking around for to see what it's all about. Overall, if you liked Accidental Warrior (The Unlikely Tale of Bloody Hal #1) by Colin Alexander and Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel #1) by Connie Willis, you may want to try Andrew Varga's The Last Saxon King.
The Last Saxon King (A Jump In Time Novel #1) by Andrew Varga is a fun time travel novel that takes its reader and MC, Dan, back to the year 1066 where he learns he's descended from people who time travel to protect the present from glitches and breaks in time. In order to get home, he'll have to fix the glitches with history. I particularly liked seeing all of the historical details come to life. It's not too often that I have the chance to read a story featuring Anglo-Saxons, Normans, and Vikings, especially in a time travel novel. My favorite aspect of this was that it features just how different English was back then compared to now with Dan's translator. The novel takes a little while to get going, but it's definitely worth sticking around for to see what it's all about. Overall, if you liked Accidental Warrior (The Unlikely Tale of Bloody Hal #1) by Colin Alexander and Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel #1) by Connie Willis, you may want to try Andrew Varga's The Last Saxon King.
December 21, 2022
A great first book for a promising new series.
The Last Saxon King delivered all the time travel series bells and whistles for me. Even more exciting, it just may be a new YA that boys can get into. And with a strong set up for multiple layers of ongoing intrigue, it will keep YA readers coming back for more.
The set up is that Dan is a teen who’s been home schooled in old-school things, like history and sword wielding mastery. Then his Dad is attacked before his eyes, and with a few whispered words and a hot stick (my name for it), Dan finds himself whisked back to another time and place. And he finds, as he goes, that his Dad is a time-traveler who’s possibly involved in both setting time right and a time war. Regardless, Dan’s task, if he wants to go home, is to reset the Saxon disaster on 1066, and keep it coming.
Dan’s voice is pitch-perfect, and the world is easy to get involved in, as are the friends and enemies he makes along the way. A very promising Book 1, and definitely on my short 2023 highly anticipated list. Narration is quite good, too, if occasionally stilted.
Thank you for a copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Saxon King delivered all the time travel series bells and whistles for me. Even more exciting, it just may be a new YA that boys can get into. And with a strong set up for multiple layers of ongoing intrigue, it will keep YA readers coming back for more.
The set up is that Dan is a teen who’s been home schooled in old-school things, like history and sword wielding mastery. Then his Dad is attacked before his eyes, and with a few whispered words and a hot stick (my name for it), Dan finds himself whisked back to another time and place. And he finds, as he goes, that his Dad is a time-traveler who’s possibly involved in both setting time right and a time war. Regardless, Dan’s task, if he wants to go home, is to reset the Saxon disaster on 1066, and keep it coming.
Dan’s voice is pitch-perfect, and the world is easy to get involved in, as are the friends and enemies he makes along the way. A very promising Book 1, and definitely on my short 2023 highly anticipated list. Narration is quite good, too, if occasionally stilted.
Thank you for a copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Imbifrex Books for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Out March 7, 2023.
4 stars
This is a really fun YA time travel story. I would have probably been really obsessed with these books in high school!
Dan is homeschooled and dealing with a very particular curriculum set by his father. When he returns home one day to his father being attacked, he finds himself suddenly in 1066 AD England. Dan and his father are part of an ancient society of time travellers that protect humanity’s timeline. Something has been changed in history and now it’s up to Dan and his new friend Sam to fix what has been broken.
There were definitely some YA tropes in here, but it was done without being forced. There were some really interesting characters and the setting of medieval England was a lot of fun. You could tell Andrew Varga did his research. I really loved Sam as a character and would love to see more of them.
Read this if you like:
- A reluctant hero
- Knights! Kings! Squires!
- Glitches in time
Out March 7, 2023.
4 stars
This is a really fun YA time travel story. I would have probably been really obsessed with these books in high school!
Dan is homeschooled and dealing with a very particular curriculum set by his father. When he returns home one day to his father being attacked, he finds himself suddenly in 1066 AD England. Dan and his father are part of an ancient society of time travellers that protect humanity’s timeline. Something has been changed in history and now it’s up to Dan and his new friend Sam to fix what has been broken.
There were definitely some YA tropes in here, but it was done without being forced. There were some really interesting characters and the setting of medieval England was a lot of fun. You could tell Andrew Varga did his research. I really loved Sam as a character and would love to see more of them.
Read this if you like:
- A reluctant hero
- Knights! Kings! Squires!
- Glitches in time
November 24, 2022
Looking at this book through the lens of adult fiction it gets 4 stars. Under the YA banner a strong 5 stars, easily. I enjoyed this it was a fun read, after I think the third chapter. Once it opens up and reveals the plot it was a fun read. Fast paced and simple, but not in an insulting way. I thoroughly recommend this for a young adult audience or someone just looking for a quick read that just wants to relax and not think too much. I will be looking for the next books in the series.
Arc provided by netgalley
Arc provided by netgalley
February 24, 2023
A very enjoyable book, fast-paced, heart-wrenching, full of mystery and intrigue.
It has a lightly humorous beginning and an interesting approach to time travel concepts. If only changes in big events can affect the future, then our character has more maneuverability.
I am not sure I understand how "all time jumpers live in what we call the present". Either I will discover this later, or it is a weird author-perceived relativity thing. I was happy to take it in stride and the story made sense.
The reality of how much harder and dangerous life can be for a woman, because of what men do is portrayed clearly. More importantly, men's ignorance is highlighted through Dan. I can see the foreshadowing of some nice and needed character development.
Very simple, "matter of fact" description of events of the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Moments of high intensity, like the arrival of reinforcements for the Vikings do make it slightly more interesting.
I like Ceowulf. I was fascinated by his talent which allowed him to always tell whether Dan's words are the truth or lies. And I like how he approaches situations. In general, the housecarls are funny and their sections are nice to read.
The twists, investigations, banter between mercenaries and fun to read and they keep the pace up. I also enjoyed the trial by ordeal and luckily managed to figure out what was happening, just before Dan did.
I am not sure Dan's and Sam's escape from the trouble in the tent in Chapter 28 was a satisfying one. It was pure luck rather than cleverness, but I still enjoyed it, then realised I had been holding my breath.
The Battle of Hastings is heart-wrenching. I loved being caught in Dan's dilemma of choosing to save history or saving his friends. It wasn't quite a "for the greater good" situation, which sometimes is exploited by evil or deranged characters. This was more something morally grey that I believe many of us can empathise with to a certain degree.
Revealing Victor's identity at the end was not something I expected. I thought it would happen in a later book, but it was a nice tool to hook me and make me want to read the next book sooner rather than later.
It has a lightly humorous beginning and an interesting approach to time travel concepts. If only changes in big events can affect the future, then our character has more maneuverability.
I am not sure I understand how "all time jumpers live in what we call the present". Either I will discover this later, or it is a weird author-perceived relativity thing. I was happy to take it in stride and the story made sense.
The reality of how much harder and dangerous life can be for a woman, because of what men do is portrayed clearly. More importantly, men's ignorance is highlighted through Dan. I can see the foreshadowing of some nice and needed character development.
Very simple, "matter of fact" description of events of the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Moments of high intensity, like the arrival of reinforcements for the Vikings do make it slightly more interesting.
I like Ceowulf. I was fascinated by his talent which allowed him to always tell whether Dan's words are the truth or lies. And I like how he approaches situations. In general, the housecarls are funny and their sections are nice to read.
The twists, investigations, banter between mercenaries and fun to read and they keep the pace up. I also enjoyed the trial by ordeal and luckily managed to figure out what was happening, just before Dan did.
I am not sure Dan's and Sam's escape from the trouble in the tent in Chapter 28 was a satisfying one. It was pure luck rather than cleverness, but I still enjoyed it, then realised I had been holding my breath.
The Battle of Hastings is heart-wrenching. I loved being caught in Dan's dilemma of choosing to save history or saving his friends. It wasn't quite a "for the greater good" situation, which sometimes is exploited by evil or deranged characters. This was more something morally grey that I believe many of us can empathise with to a certain degree.
Revealing Victor's identity at the end was not something I expected. I thought it would happen in a later book, but it was a nice tool to hook me and make me want to read the next book sooner rather than later.
August 12, 2022
This was a fun book for me! Daniel, 16 year old boy, travels back in time to 1066 AD. Of course he’s completely unprepared, but he’s a very smart kid and quickly learns the ropes of eleventh century living. He also learns that the very fact he was able to jump back in time is because something has happened to change the past causing catastrophic impact on the present. You see, Daniel comes from a long family line of time jumpers, who are committed to protecting the present. Until that catastrophic change is fixed, Daniel cannot return to the present. From there it’s a wild, exciting adventure, with a little teen angst and a lot of humor.
I was very impressed with the author’s attention to historic detail. I’ve sometimes wondered what it was like to live in a different era and Mr. Varga did an outstanding job of illustrating what life in the eleventh century might have been like. There is a lot of information about how commoners and soldiers traveled, waged war, and built relationships and hierarchies within the system, but it is always presented in a fun and interesting manner. There were even parts that made me laugh out loud.
This is a solid YA book, most characters are not very deeply developed, but there are moments of soul searching, moral dilemmas, and romance (nothing racy).
On the whole, The Last Saxon King worth reading. I think both kids and adults will enjoy it.
I was very impressed with the author’s attention to historic detail. I’ve sometimes wondered what it was like to live in a different era and Mr. Varga did an outstanding job of illustrating what life in the eleventh century might have been like. There is a lot of information about how commoners and soldiers traveled, waged war, and built relationships and hierarchies within the system, but it is always presented in a fun and interesting manner. There were even parts that made me laugh out loud.
This is a solid YA book, most characters are not very deeply developed, but there are moments of soul searching, moral dilemmas, and romance (nothing racy).
On the whole, The Last Saxon King worth reading. I think both kids and adults will enjoy it.
November 23, 2022
4.5/5 Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a great mix of history and fantasy! Good character development and a really fun ride. I think this Jump In Time series is going to be fascinating.
Sixteen year old Dan Renfrew is a time jumper, descended from a long line of secret heroes; too bad no one explained this to him. Instead, his Dad prepared him by home-schooling him with a large emphasis on history, fighting with a variety of medieval weapons, horseback riding, etc. Then one day, Dan is transported back in time without knowing what is happening. He bumbles around, but eventually figures out where he is, and when. He meets another time jumper, Sam, and it is explained to him that they are there to fix a glitch in the time continuum leading to their present.
Dan & Sam’s adventures are gripping. At first, Sam wants nothing to do with this “newbie”; but ends up saving him a few times. They realize that working together will help them both meet their objective and Sam reluctantly agrees to pool their experience and resources. Sam points out that the rod Dan’s Dad threw at him at the last moment is Dan’s way home; when it gets warm, he is to recite the rhyme his Dad taught him.
The time jump devices are not given much of a background; they are very old, hexagonal, rod-like devices which have sections that can spin. These devices also conveniently act as universal translators when touching the skin. They are passed down within families, father to son. Where they came from and how they work are not explained at all; perhaps fodder for future books in the series.
The history is accurate, the fantasy aspect is not very detailed; but the story is very entertaining. Why it is that their particular present is worth fighting for is not explained. What is causing the time glitches is hinted at, but also not really explained. I am really looking forward to learning more in subsequent entries of this series!
What a great mix of history and fantasy! Good character development and a really fun ride. I think this Jump In Time series is going to be fascinating.
Sixteen year old Dan Renfrew is a time jumper, descended from a long line of secret heroes; too bad no one explained this to him. Instead, his Dad prepared him by home-schooling him with a large emphasis on history, fighting with a variety of medieval weapons, horseback riding, etc. Then one day, Dan is transported back in time without knowing what is happening. He bumbles around, but eventually figures out where he is, and when. He meets another time jumper, Sam, and it is explained to him that they are there to fix a glitch in the time continuum leading to their present.
Dan & Sam’s adventures are gripping. At first, Sam wants nothing to do with this “newbie”; but ends up saving him a few times. They realize that working together will help them both meet their objective and Sam reluctantly agrees to pool their experience and resources. Sam points out that the rod Dan’s Dad threw at him at the last moment is Dan’s way home; when it gets warm, he is to recite the rhyme his Dad taught him.
The time jump devices are not given much of a background; they are very old, hexagonal, rod-like devices which have sections that can spin. These devices also conveniently act as universal translators when touching the skin. They are passed down within families, father to son. Where they came from and how they work are not explained at all; perhaps fodder for future books in the series.
The history is accurate, the fantasy aspect is not very detailed; but the story is very entertaining. Why it is that their particular present is worth fighting for is not explained. What is causing the time glitches is hinted at, but also not really explained. I am really looking forward to learning more in subsequent entries of this series!
June 5, 2022
For a book that pitches itself as a novel for teens and young adults from the start, it quickly turns into a deep and engaging narrative of alternate history and time travel.
Its vision of the Middle Ages is much more focused on real aspects than the vast majority of titles in the genre, managing to arouse curiosity and admiration for the world-building work done here. It is one of those novels that I wish I could see in the cinema. Highly recommended.
Its vision of the Middle Ages is much more focused on real aspects than the vast majority of titles in the genre, managing to arouse curiosity and admiration for the world-building work done here. It is one of those novels that I wish I could see in the cinema. Highly recommended.
April 7, 2023
If I am completely honest, this book was closer to 3 stars than 4. But the strong final part (which is very important for me) made me want to immediately read the sequel !
The Last Saxon King follows Dan, a homeschooled teenager living with his eccentric father, as he is thrown headfirst into 1066 England, right after he witnesses the attempted murder of his father by a mysterious man with a sword. There, with the assistance of fellow time-traveller Sam, he has to undo the damage a rival faction of time-travellers is attempting to do, while surviving in medieval England.
A stand-out trait of this book is historical accuracy. The atmosphere of the era, the characters, the different social classes, the battles, all of them follow the real historical events and facts we know about the era. The highlight is undoubtedly the Battle of Hastings, which is the climax of the book.
I had a few issues with the characters: they're quite bland and lack flair, they could be anyone, just vessels for the reader to see the world of medieval England. The dialogue is quite flat sometimes as well - and the fact that one of Dan's few definitive traits is that he is thirsty for a girl (Sam) is not something I really enjoyed. I hope there is more character development in the sequels. The background of the time-travellers ongoing war is also a bit...generic. General platitudes about wealth and greed, it could use a bit more depth.
All in all, The Last Saxon King is a promising debut which sets the tone for an exciting book series! The book is out now!
Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for the ARC!
The Last Saxon King follows Dan, a homeschooled teenager living with his eccentric father, as he is thrown headfirst into 1066 England, right after he witnesses the attempted murder of his father by a mysterious man with a sword. There, with the assistance of fellow time-traveller Sam, he has to undo the damage a rival faction of time-travellers is attempting to do, while surviving in medieval England.
A stand-out trait of this book is historical accuracy. The atmosphere of the era, the characters, the different social classes, the battles, all of them follow the real historical events and facts we know about the era. The highlight is undoubtedly the Battle of Hastings, which is the climax of the book.
I had a few issues with the characters: they're quite bland and lack flair, they could be anyone, just vessels for the reader to see the world of medieval England. The dialogue is quite flat sometimes as well - and the fact that one of Dan's few definitive traits is that he is thirsty for a girl (Sam) is not something I really enjoyed. I hope there is more character development in the sequels. The background of the time-travellers ongoing war is also a bit...generic. General platitudes about wealth and greed, it could use a bit more depth.
All in all, The Last Saxon King is a promising debut which sets the tone for an exciting book series! The book is out now!
Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for the ARC!
August 4, 2022
Poor Dan. One morning he's your average American teenager living with his dad and hanging out at the mall and that evening he's flung through time, dropped right into Middle Age England with absolutely no clue as to why and how he got there.
We follow along as Dan sleeps on the cold, hard ground, eats the blandest of mutton, attempts to convince small townsfolk he's not an enemy, becomes a warrior's squire and, oh yeah, fighting the Norman's; all the while attempting to return home. No big deal.
The Last Saxon King is an awesome debut by Varga for YA readers. Perfectly balanced between mystery, action and conversation, I never felt bored or rushed. As an adult, I appreciated the personal growth of the main character as he finds himself in situations that require honesty and staying true to yourself, hard work, overcoming fears, responsibility and the like.
For the teen and pre-teen readers there is plenty of action, sword fights, deception and a bit of G/PG rated romance. There is an occasional, logically placed swear word but nothing extreme that would stop me from letting pre-teens read it.
I was a bit sad when I read the final page knowing I'm going to have to wait for the next installment. I'm not sure if I can wait a year...I need to know what happens!
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley as I received a complimentary copy of The Last Saxon King in exchange for this honest review.
We follow along as Dan sleeps on the cold, hard ground, eats the blandest of mutton, attempts to convince small townsfolk he's not an enemy, becomes a warrior's squire and, oh yeah, fighting the Norman's; all the while attempting to return home. No big deal.
The Last Saxon King is an awesome debut by Varga for YA readers. Perfectly balanced between mystery, action and conversation, I never felt bored or rushed. As an adult, I appreciated the personal growth of the main character as he finds himself in situations that require honesty and staying true to yourself, hard work, overcoming fears, responsibility and the like.
For the teen and pre-teen readers there is plenty of action, sword fights, deception and a bit of G/PG rated romance. There is an occasional, logically placed swear word but nothing extreme that would stop me from letting pre-teens read it.
I was a bit sad when I read the final page knowing I'm going to have to wait for the next installment. I'm not sure if I can wait a year...I need to know what happens!
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley as I received a complimentary copy of The Last Saxon King in exchange for this honest review.
January 24, 2023
This my second ever time jump book and I have to say I enjoyed it far more than i expected.
I do love history and this is one of the main reasons why I applied for this ARC and I wasn't disappointed by the amount of information and accuracy.
It was a very easy book to listen to with nothing confusing or feeling the need to go back and listen something again. Though that brings the issue that not that many exciting things happen.
The writing was good and consistent with no needless information BUT I would definitely enjoy some more information about the main character as well as how and why those time glitches happen and how they have come to know how to fix them.
A thing that I did love was how the MC doesn't instantly becomes a hero and is okay with everything. He acts appropriately. He is scared, confused and extremely cautious.
Those are the reasons why it isn't a 5 star for me but still a 4 one.
Do I recommend it? If you wish an easy read with lots of history yes. If you are a fan of a lot of action the no.
Thank you to NetGalley, Imbrifex Books and Andrew Varga for providing me the ebook for my honest review.
I do love history and this is one of the main reasons why I applied for this ARC and I wasn't disappointed by the amount of information and accuracy.
It was a very easy book to listen to with nothing confusing or feeling the need to go back and listen something again. Though that brings the issue that not that many exciting things happen.
The writing was good and consistent with no needless information BUT I would definitely enjoy some more information about the main character as well as how and why those time glitches happen and how they have come to know how to fix them.
A thing that I did love was how the MC doesn't instantly becomes a hero and is okay with everything. He acts appropriately. He is scared, confused and extremely cautious.
Those are the reasons why it isn't a 5 star for me but still a 4 one.
Do I recommend it? If you wish an easy read with lots of history yes. If you are a fan of a lot of action the no.
Thank you to NetGalley, Imbrifex Books and Andrew Varga for providing me the ebook for my honest review.
November 15, 2022
Note: I listened to an ARC of the audiobook through NetGalley
Mark Sanderlin's narration convinces you that you are listening to a 16 year old's tale of accidental time travel, In this book by Andrew Varga, after seeing his father viciously attacked, sixteen year old Dan Renfrew unexpectedly finds himself in England in 1066, Between the Vikings, the Normans, and the everyday threats of life in the 11th century, Dan has a tough time staying alive. Fortunately, he encounters another time jumper who helps him out. Sam also comes from a time jumping family and fills him in on some of the intricacies of the experience.
Dan and Sam need to figure out and fix the time glitch to ensure that they can return to an unchanged present. Things are complicated by the rogue time jumpers that are trying to break history. Dan is eager to get it fixed so he can get back to home to check on his father.
The sequel in this six book series is due to be released in September 2023. It will be a long wait!
Recommended for those who enjoy light romance, sci fi/time travel, and young adult books.
Mark Sanderlin's narration convinces you that you are listening to a 16 year old's tale of accidental time travel, In this book by Andrew Varga, after seeing his father viciously attacked, sixteen year old Dan Renfrew unexpectedly finds himself in England in 1066, Between the Vikings, the Normans, and the everyday threats of life in the 11th century, Dan has a tough time staying alive. Fortunately, he encounters another time jumper who helps him out. Sam also comes from a time jumping family and fills him in on some of the intricacies of the experience.
Dan and Sam need to figure out and fix the time glitch to ensure that they can return to an unchanged present. Things are complicated by the rogue time jumpers that are trying to break history. Dan is eager to get it fixed so he can get back to home to check on his father.
The sequel in this six book series is due to be released in September 2023. It will be a long wait!
Recommended for those who enjoy light romance, sci fi/time travel, and young adult books.
June 20, 2022
When Dan Renfrew arrives home early, he finds his father seriously wounded and and unknown man standing over him. Dan's father hands Dan a strange device and it transports him back to England in 1066. This is how he learns that he is a time jumper, a person who can travel through time. The catch is he must set right something that has gone wrong in order to return to his present. Dan must figure out how to survive and he learns that the unorthodox lessons his father taught him were preparation for his work as a time jumper. He meets some important historical personages, as well as several fellow time jumpers. Dan learns that there has been a destructive division in the time jumpers and he is going to have to decide what side he is going to fight for. I love a time-travel story and this book is the start of a new series.
May 24, 2022
adventurous funny informative lighthearted tense medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A really fun and captivating read that takes historical fiction on a different front. I'm a fan of isekai/time travel sci fi so having it set in this particular era was intriguing. One qualm I do have is with how Sam was written, particularly how stilted her speech was in some places. Other than that, a really nice read to take a break from too much academia.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A really fun and captivating read that takes historical fiction on a different front. I'm a fan of isekai/time travel sci fi so having it set in this particular era was intriguing. One qualm I do have is with how Sam was written, particularly how stilted her speech was in some places. Other than that, a really nice read to take a break from too much academia.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.
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